In our first episode of 2026, we speak to Dr. Laura Winter (Counselling Psychologist and researcher with a special interest in P/politics and social justice) and Dr. Richard Bennett (Clinical Psychologist, CBT / ACT therapist and Clinical Lead on the HICBT course at the University of Birmingham) about P/politics!

Key topics include:

- What we mean by P/politics, and the difference between Politics and politics

- How P/politics shows up in therapeutic environments

- Navigating P/political material as part of therapeutic journeys.

Lots of food for reflection in this episode, and we hope you found it as fascinating as we did!

KSASSISTANT:

Find out more information about the KSAssistant webapp (the tool that takes the scare out of the KSA portfolio process) at https://twolostsouls.co.uk/ksassistant.

ABOUT DR. LAURA WINTER:

Laura Winter (she/her) is an HCPC registered Counselling Psychologist and Reader in Education and Counselling Psychology in the Manchester Institute of Education.

Laura has published widely in the fields of counselling psychology and education, focusing largely on the interplay between social and political issues, education and wellbeing.

You can find out more about Laura's work at https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/laura.winter/

ABOUT DR. RICHARD BENNETT:

Dr Richard Bennett works as an Associate Professor on the CBT programmes at the University of Birmingham, where he co-leads the Postgraduate Diploma in HICBT, training therapists NHS Talking Therapies. He is qualified as a Clinical Psychologist and Occupational Therapist and regularly contributes to a range of professional training courses across the University.

More information on Dr. Bennett can be found at:

www.thinkpsychology.co⁠ - for therapy, supervision, and other enquiries

https://www.thinkpsychology.co/about.php?page=research-and-publications⁠ - for a list of Rich's publications

www.ACTivatingyourpractice.com⁠ - for training in ACT

https://2oldpsych.alitu.com/⁠ - for Dr. Rich and Dr. Ray Owen's ACT Training Podcast: Two Old Psychologists Talking About Stuff

Rich can also be found at @ThinkPsychol on Insta, Threads, and Bluesky.

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CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, you can email the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠hello@twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we speak to Dr. Richard Bennett, clinical psychologist, and clinical lead of the HICBT course at the University of Birmingham about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy!

Key topics include:

• What ACT is and why you should use it;
• Differences between ACT and second wave CBT;
• Recent changes to the HICBT curriculum;
• Troubleshooting ACT Metaphors.

• 
  

In true ACT style, this is a wonderfully experiential episode, and we hope you enjoy it!

ABOUT DR. RICHARD BENNETT

Dr Richard Bennett works as an Associate Professor on the CBT programmes at the University of Birmingham, where he co-leads the Postgraduate Diploma in HICBT, training therapists NHS Talking Therapies. He is qualified as a Clinical Psychologist and Occupational Therapist and regularly contributes to a range of professional training courses across the University.

More information on Dr. Bennett can be found at:

www.thinkpsychology.co⁠ - for therapy, supervision, and other enquiries

https://www.thinkpsychology.co/about.php?page=research-and-publications⁠ - for a list of Rich's publications

www.ACTivatingyourpractice.com⁠ - for training in ACT

https://2oldpsych.alitu.com/⁠ - for Dr. Rich and Dr. Ray Owen's ACT Training Podcast: Two Old Psychologists Talking About Stuff

Rich can also be found at @ThinkPsychol on Insta, Threads, and Bluesky.

TLS AGENDA TIMER

Access TLS Agenda Timer (lets you visualise your agenda, set visual agendas collaboratively without the hassle of real-life whiteboards, notify you of your progress through agenda items) at https://timer.twolostsouls.co.uk, or download it for Android mobile phones at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.twolostsouls.sessiontimer.

Find out more about TLS Agenda Timer on YouTube!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Hear about upcoming episodes before anyone else and join the TLS community by joining our mailing list! Sign up now at ⁠⁠⁠www.twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, you can email the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠hello@twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠⁠.

What!? Two episodes in one month!?

That's right! In this bonus episode of Two Lost Souls, we speak to Dr. Elizabeth Cotton (aka Surviving Work) about her new book, UberTherapy , in which she shares her perspective on how the therapeutic landscape has changed so far (particularly in relation to IAPT / Talking Therapies), the rise of online therapy platforms, and what this means for the therapeutic systems we work in, and the therapists that work within them.

An explorative, informative, and engaging conversation - and we look forward to hearing your thoughts!

ABOUT DR. ELIZABETH COTTON:

Elizabeth Cotton is an Associate Professor of Responsible Business at the University of Leicester and founder of Surviving Work, which researches mental health and its connection to work. She serves as a Trustee of the British Sociological Association and chairs the editorial board of its journal Work, Employment & Society. Her background includes extensive work with health teams and trade unions, including as Head of Education for IndustriALL (the Miner’s International), and she is a national executive member of the Psychotherapy & Counselling Union. A trained psychotherapist with NHS experience, she also leads the Digital Therapy Project, exploring the future of therapy in the digital age.

Elizabeth's new book, UberTherapy: The New Business of Mental Health (published by Bristol University Press) is OUT NOW!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Hear about upcoming episodes before anyone else and join the TLS community by joining our mailing list! Sign up now at ⁠⁠⁠www.twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, you can email the podcast at ⁠⁠⁠hello@twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode, we speak to Dr. Shah Alam, a clinical psychologist, former HICBT Therapist and PWP, about his experiences working in each of these three roles.

Key topics include:

• Differences between the training journeys of a CBT therapist and clinical psychologists
• Differences in the workload and models used by CBT therapists and clinical psychologists
• Diversity within these fields

ABOUT DR. SHAH ALLAM

Dr. Shah Alam is an HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist, trained in CBT and EMDR, with a keen interest in in improving healthcare access and experiences for racially minoritised people. Dr. Alam also co-ordinates the Valued Voices mentoring scheme with UCL, supporting racially minoritised aspiring Clinical Psychologists onto training.

More information on Dr. Alam can be found on his LinkedIn, or on his website.

The BPS Article referenced in this episode can be found here, and you can find more information on the Valued Voices mentoring scheme here.

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CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, you can email the podcast at ⁠⁠hello@twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠.

In this episode, we speak to Sam Froudist, a High Intensity CBT Therapist working in CAMHS about CBT for CYP

Key topics include:

• Differences between the CYP and Adult training courses
• Potential career routes into CYP HICBT training courses
• Benefits of doing a non-accredited course
• Systemic issues surrounding CAMHS and mental health care for young people

ABOUT SAM FROUDIST

Sam Froudist is a High Intensity CBT Therapist working with Children and Young People; a career she embarked on after moving to the UK from Australia and working as a teacher.

More information on Sam can be found on her LinkedIn.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Hear about upcoming episodes before anyone else and join the TLS community by joining our mailing list! Sign up now at ⁠www.twolostsouls.co.uk⁠

CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, you can email the podcast at ⁠hello@twolostsouls.co.uk⁠.

In this episode, we speak to Helen Macdonald, about the use of CBT in treating the impact of long-term health conditions and offer advice for both trainees and established therapists!

Key topics include:

• The role of CBT in treating long-term health conditions;
• How systemic changes have impacted on the role of therapy (and therapists!) in the context of long-term conditions;
• How to approach outcome measures, and disorder-specific measures;
• Practical tools and change methods for working with clients with long-term health conditions
• Judicious use of therapist self-disclosure.

ABOUT HELEN MACDONALD

Helen Macdonald is a CBT psychotherapist, EMDR consultant, lecturer on CBT for long-term health conditions, and a senior clinical advisor for the BABCP (for whom she also hosts a fantastic podcast!) Helen is the co-author of a self-help book for clients called Overcoming Chronic Pain, with a new third edition set to be released soon!

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Hear about upcoming episodes before anyone else and join the TLS community by joining our mailing list! Sign up now at www.twolostsouls.co.uk

CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, you can email the podcast at hello@twolostsouls.co.uk.

In this episode, we speak to Sven Law, to discuss a whole host of topics including:

- Using CBT skills outside of a therapeutic setting;

- How to look for opportunities to use your CBT skills outside of the therapy room;

- The role of technology (including AI) and innovation in therapy, including the opportunities and the pitfalls.

Given some uncertainty around HICBT roles (with reports of certain universities deciding against running the course this year, reports of some trusts beginning to consider voluntary redundancies), we thought this episode would be a useful reminder that the toolbox of CBT skills can be used in a variety of industries.

ABOUT SVEN LAW

Sven Law is a Social Worker - turned - CBT therapist and supervisor who has also diversified and pivoted to deploy his CBT skillset into the technology industry, working with a variety of platforms including IESO, Limbic, and MindDistrict.

Sven can be found on LinkedIn, or can be emailed at TfD Therapy.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Hear about upcoming episodes before anyone else and join the TLS community by joining our mailing list! Sign up now at ⁠www.twolostsouls.co.uk⁠

CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, let us know by following / tweeting (or is it xeeting?) us at @⁠⁠⁠⁠TLS_Pod⁠⁠⁠⁠, or by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you listen on Spotify, you can even leave us a voice-message to include in our next episode!

In this episode, we speak to Sam Thompson, to discuss important things to consider when treating armed forces veterans presenting with mental health issues, and answer the most difficult listener question we've ever received on the show about confidentiality and the Geneva Convention.

ABOUT SAM THOMPSON

Sam Thompson a CBT therapist and Registered Mental Heath Nurse who works for Veterans NHS Wales and is hugely passionate about improving mental health care for those who have been employed by our armed forces.

Sam can be found on Twitter at @SamThom90

Veterans NHS Wales can be found at @VeteransWales.

More information on veterans support organisations can be found at:

veteranswales.co.uk

VeteranAware

OpCourage

HelpforHeroes

As Sam notes in the episode, we would also recommend having a search for other helpful veteran support organisations that you might find, or asking local colleagues or healthcare professionals.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Hear about upcoming episodes before anyone else and join the TLS community by joining our mailing list! Sign up now at www.twolostsouls.co.uk

CONTACT TWO LOST SOULS

If you have queries or comments on this episode, or any other, let us know by following / tweeting (or is it xeeting?) us at @⁠⁠⁠TLS_Pod⁠⁠⁠, or by emailing us at ⁠⁠⁠hello@twolostsouls.co.uk⁠⁠⁠. If you listen on Spotify, you can even leave us a voice-message to include in our next episode!